Boasson Hagen Wins Stage 3 of Dauphine Libere

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Boasson Hagen Wins Stage 3 of Dauphine Libere

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) has won Stage 3 of the Dauphine Libere.

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) has won Stage 3 of the Dauphine Libere. The Norwegian took a bunch sprint to win the rolling, 167-km run from Givors to La Clayette in 4:22:13. Gerald Ciolek (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and Borut Bozic (Astana) finished second and third, respectively. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) remains the maillot jaune.

The hostilities started early. At the gun, Luis Angel Mate (Cofidis) and Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) attacked. The pair forged a 6-minute lead before FDJ-Big Mat and Argos-Shimano started pacing the peloton. The gap then fell from 4:05 at 44 km, to 2:40 at 117 km, to 1:17 at 142 km. With 15 km remaining, the break was reeled in.

FDJ-Big Mat led the field into the last 10 km, but Omega Pharma-Quick Step took over with 7 km left. John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano), a favorite to win the stage, lost his chance when he punctured with 2 km to go. Philippe Gilbert (BMC) attacked and was reeled in in the last km. The stage came down to the cavalry charge, which Boasson Hagen won.

In the overall, Wiggins leads Cadel Evans (BMC) by 0:01 and Andriy Grivko (Astana) by 0:02. Stage 4 will shake up the standings. The rolling, 53.5-km individual time trial from Villie-Morgon to Bourg-en-Bresse will put those who ride well against the clock into race leadership. Who will win? Wiggins? Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)? Cadel Evans (BMC)? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!